Description

A spinal cord injury is a severe damage to the spinal cord that results in changes in strength, sensations and other body functions. This is a serious physical trauma that can have lasting effects on most aspects of everyday life. The spinal cord is a bunch of nerves and tissues that are protected in the vertebrae of the spine. Bones stacked on top of each other make up the spine vertebrae. The spine includes many nerves, right from the base of the brain to the bottom of the back, up to the buttocks.
The spinal cord sends messages from the brain to the other parts of the body. We can move our limbs and perceive pain due to these messages. However, if the spinal cord gets injured, some of the impulses might not get through, thus resulting in loss of sensation or mobility below the injury.
A spinal cord damage in the neck will cause paralysis to a larger body section than a lower back injury. The injury can either be complete or incomplete. In the case of complete injuries, all function below the injury area is lost while in incomplete injury, there is some function even below the injury.

Indications

Normally, spinal cord injury occurs due to an accident or a violent event. The following cases can cause severe damage to your spinal cord:
• Trauma in a car accident, particularly affecting the face, head, neck, back or chest
• Falling from a great height
• Electrical accident
• Violent attacks like a gunshot or stabbing in the back
• Diving in shallow water and hitting the bottom
• Head or spinal injury while playing sports
• Severe twisting of the middle section of your torso
If you notice any of these following symptoms, you must visit a doctor at the earliest to begin your spinal cord injury treatment:
• Problems in walking or inability to control the movement of arms and legs
• Headache
• Loss of bladder or bowels control
• Unusual positioning of the head
• Unconsciousness
• Signs of shock
• Constant pain or stiffness in the back or neck
• A feeling of numbness or tingling spreading across the extremities

Pre-procedure

Normally, spinal cord injury occurs due to an accident or a violent event. The following cases can cause severe damage to your spinal cord:
• Trauma in a car accident, particularly affecting the face, head, neck, back or chest
• Falling from a great height
• Electrical accident
• Violent attacks like a gunshot or stabbing in the back
• Diving in shallow water and hitting the bottom
• Head or spinal injury while playing sports
• Severe twisting of the middle section of your torso
If you notice any of these following symptoms, you must visit a doctor at the earliest to begin your spinal cord injury treatment:
• Problems in walking or inability to control the movement of arms and legs
• Headache
• Loss of bladder or bowels control
• Unusual positioning of the head
• Unconsciousness
• Signs of shock
• Constant pain or stiffness in the back or neck
• A feeling of numbness or tingling spreading across the extremities

During Procedure

Normally, spinal cord injury occurs due to an accident or a violent event. The following cases can cause severe damage to your spinal cord:
• Trauma in a car accident, particularly affecting the face, head, neck, back or chest
• Falling from a great height
• Electrical accident
• Violent attacks like a gunshot or stabbing in the back
• Diving in shallow water and hitting the bottom
• Head or spinal injury while playing sports
• Severe twisting of the middle section of your torso
If you notice any of these following symptoms, you must visit a doctor at the earliest to begin your spinal cord injury treatment:
• Problems in walking or inability to control the movement of arms and legs
• Headache
• Loss of bladder or bowels control
• Unusual positioning of the head
• Unconsciousness
• Signs of shock
• Constant pain or stiffness in the back or neck
• A feeling of numbness or tingling spreading across the extremities

Post Procedure

Once the doctor stabilizes you in the hospital, they then focus on the secondary problems that may arise like deconditioning, bladder and bowel issues, blood clots, respiratory infections, muscle contractions and pressure ulcers. The duration of your hospital stay depends on your medical issues and recovery time. Once the doctor thinks you are fit for therapies and treatment, you might be shifted to spinal cord injury rehabilitation centers.
Many spinal cord injury centers work with you from the early stages of recovery. The team will include a dietician, rehabilitation nurse, social worker, psychologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist and a doctor with a speciality in spinal cord injuries.
In the initial stages, therapists emphasise on maintaining and boosting strength in existing muscle function reworking on motor skills and learning new adaptive methods to complete daily tasks. Also, you are given advise on the effects of the injury, ways to prevent future complications and rebuilding the quality of your life.
You can learn new skills and embrace new technologies and equipment that will help you live on your own as far as possible. You can also resume your hobbies and return to school or workplace after recovery.

Risk and Complications

While a spinal cord injury treatment can assure a better quality of life for the patient, the cure is not 100% satisfactory, thus leaving certain risks and complications in everyday life. Some of the common risks include:
• Nerve root damage or paralysis in extreme cases. Usually, surgery is done well before this level so patients must get immediate treatment to avoid extreme complications.
• Cerebrospinal fluid leak
• Infections
• Bleeding
• Post-op instability
• Loss of skin sensation
• Circulatory problems
• Pain and depression

More Info

Although a spinal cord injury can be irreversible, technology has made it possible for patients to live a comfortable and active life with certain cures and cares. The spinal cord injury stem cell transplantation is a clinical study that is not yet part of a regular treatment plan, but it has helped many patients experience a vast improvement in sensation, movement, control of bladder and bowel, better strength and a healthy life in general. If you are looking for a spinal cord injury cure, talk to our doctors and they will advise you on the right action plan, based on the severity of your injury.

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